New entry level Mac Mini - performance is very poor..

[paulrbeers]

I just wanted to add I bought one today and it is lag city. I typically only play FaceBook games and even those stutter and beachball.

Beachballin' all over the place.

Edit: needless to say this is going back tomorrow. Completely unacceptable. Two minutes to boot from powered off is ridiculous.

Did you pull up Activity Monitor? Last time I checked, any new machine has to go thru indexing by Spotlight and thus can really make a spinning hard drive suck until it is complete.

Maybe this has changed, but then again I'm all SSD over here so it doesn't bother me. My guess is that if you had let the indexing complete, then your Mini would have run a lot better. Indexing a spinning drive is really taxing until it is complete and when Spotlight is searching the entire drive, you can imagine how awful that can make things.

 

[applelover4u]

And by the time you reach the 4GB RAM limit of the Mac Mini, you will then realize that you can't upgrade the RAM... so in the end, Apple still wins when it comes to RAM upgrades (unless you've good soldering skills).

Myself, I use an eGPU solution with a Sonnet IIID and a GTX 780 Ti connected over TB2, and got a plug and play solution for Boot Camp (installed in UEFI).

All due respect but apple ram is handled differently. 4gb works like 8gb

I had chrome and firefox open with 8 tabs each, vmfusion running windows, VLC playing a HD 1080p and itunes running at the same time and iphoto open and my mac mini 4gb was running like a champ no hiccup

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applelover wrote above:
[[ I'm ready to do this but cant decide which one ]]

Do you have the 2014 Mini?
Then study the pages listed here:
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/20562190/
and this one also:
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/20562239/

Part number:
http://applecomponents.com/items/ca...-storage/0000006001?pn=1&cmp=0231&per_page=30

Torx T-6 "security" driver:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K82OHBI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8

ahhh I probably will just do an SSD. I cant even find the pCIe drive anywhere on ebay

But I want to open it up and replace the drive with the SSD but then again maybe I should just boot from it and put my apps and OS on and fusion the 2 drives together. So many choices

----------

applelover wrote above:
[[ I'm ready to do this but cant decide which one ]]

Do you have the 2014 Mini?
Then study the pages listed here:
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/20562190/
and this one also:
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/20562239/

Part number:
http://applecomponents.com/items/ca...-storage/0000006001?pn=1&cmp=0231&per_page=30

Torx T-6 "security" driver:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K82OHBI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8

Did you pull up Activity Monitor? Last time I checked, any new machine has to go thru indexing by Spotlight and thus can really make a spinning hard drive suck until it is complete.

Maybe this has changed, but then again I'm all SSD over here so it doesn't bother me. My guess is that if you had let the indexing complete, then your Mini would have run a lot better. Indexing a spinning drive is really taxing until it is complete and when Spotlight is searching the entire drive, you can imagine how awful that can make things.

Exactly what happen with mines when I first bought it

 

[Meister]

I just wanted to add I bought one today and it is lag city. I typically only play FaceBook games and even those stutter and beachball.

Beachballin' all over the place.

Edit: needless to say this is going back tomorrow. Completely unacceptable. Two minutes to boot from powered off is ridiculous.

Everyone should know better as to buy an hdd computer in 2015.

 

[kupkakez]

Everyone should know better as to buy an hdd computer in 2015.

Agreed. But my needs are extremely basic. Music streaming, Facebook games, web browsing and that's it. I don't do anything wild so I figured an hdd wouldn't be too bad.

I think I've learned my lesson I'll stick with ssd

 

[Altis]

Did you pull up Activity Monitor? Last time I checked, any new machine has to go thru indexing by Spotlight and thus can really make a spinning hard drive suck until it is complete....

Shouldn't a brand new, fresh install of OS X come pre-indexed? They're effectively identical regardless of the hardware. All the OS and stock apps should be indexed out of the box. Would sure make for a better out-of-the-box experience for those with HDD.

All due respect but apple ram is handled differently. 4gb works like 8gb....

4GB works like 8GB on what... on Windows?

 

[applelover4u]

Agreed. But my needs are extremely basic. Music streaming, Facebook games, web browsing and that's it. I don't do anything wild so I figured an hdd wouldn't be too bad.

I think I've learned my lesson I'll stick with ssd

Give it 2 days. It will smooth out and run like a champ, trust me

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Shouldn't a brand new, fresh install of OS X come pre-indexed? They're effectively identical regardless of the hardware. All the OS and stock apps should be indexed out of the box. Would sure make for a better out-of-the-box experience for those with HDD.



4GB works like 8GB on what... on Windows?

No on macs

 

[paulrbeers]

Shouldn't a brand new, fresh install of OS X come pre-indexed? They're effectively identical regardless of the hardware. All the OS and stock apps should be indexed out of the box. Would sure make for a better out-of-the-box experience for those with HDD.



4GB works like 8GB on what... on Windows?

Not in my past experience. I've always seen spotlight indexing upon install when I had a spinning oSX drive. Again I really haven't paid as much attention as of late since an SSD covers up the impact of a spotlight index so I could be wrong....

 

[scottsjack]

Give it 2 days. It will smooth out and run like a champ, trust me

Oh come on now. iMac, mini or laptop, the cheapest Mac model is now crap. Experienced buyers will stay away. Equal or slightly more money spent on an Apple refurb will get far better results.

The new cheap stuff is preying on newbies and unsophisticated buyers. It is no longer possible to buy any Apple computer and get a great machine.

 

[Meister]

Oh come on now. iMac, mini or laptop, the cheapest Mac model is now crap.

The cheapest laptops are the macbook airs and they are awesome.

 

[Altis]

The cheapest laptops are the macbook airs and they are awesome.

They're actually quite dated. The screen bezels are monstrous (and silver, at that), the CPU isn't very powerful, the screen isn't particularly high resolution, and the keyboard is shallow and mushy. They're also not exactly inexpensive.

They were great when they came out though, and the trackpad is as silky smooth as ever.

 

[Meister]

They're actually quite dated. The screen bezels are monstrous (and silver, at that),...

... aesthetic opinion.

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, the CPU isn't very powerful,

much, much more powerful than in the new MB...

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, and the keyboard is shallow and mushy.

What?

The Air still works fantastically and provides an amazing user experience.
The only more or less smaller downside is the screen.

 

[mcmul]

I bought the mid-range Mac Mini over the weekend and it's been brilliant so far. It's designated as my central "always-on" server and for 24 hours it's been hammering through a large Handbrake queue, copying (rsync) files over the network and the messages, mail, calendar, terminal, safari, photos, iTunes (home sharing) and Clear app have been constantly open. The only slow down has been when I need to access the GUI (rather than ssh), but that's more my internet connection and Chrome Remote Desktop slowing things down. Whenever I need to get "hands on", it seems to power my 45" TV (in the living room) without any issues at all - looks superb too. Looking at iStat Menus right now, the CPU is at 100%, memory at 56% and the network's being hammered. Honestly, I'm super impressed with this thing.

This was intended as informational and to provide some context, not to help diagnose your issues I would highly recommend it. I may upgrade the SSD at some point but it seems to do the job perfectly so far.

 

[scottsjack]

The cheapest laptops are the macbook airs and they are awesome.

Grant you that. By cheapest laptop I meant the new MacBook. Airs are such a specialized category of laptop that they're usually not on my mind when I am thinking about Apple laptops.

 

[Meister]

Grant you that. By cheapest laptop I meant the new MacBook. Airs are such a specialized category of laptop that they're usually not on my mind when I am thinking about Apple laptops.

The air is sorta the jack of all trades. Pretty powerful, ports, battery, slim and light, ... I wouldn't call that a specialized category.

 

[paulrbeers]

Grant you that. By cheapest laptop I meant the new MacBook. Airs are such a specialized category of laptop that they're usually not on my mind when I am thinking about Apple laptops.

So now you are changing your opinion to fit a certain criteria....

Further how is the Macbook Air a more specialized category than the new Macbook? Seems to me super-ultra portability is an even more specialized category than the portable w/ ports category that the macbook air is....

 

[Altis]

... aesthetic opinion.

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much, much more powerful than in the new MB...

----------

What?

The Air still works fantastically and provides an amazing user experience.
The only more or less smaller downside is the screen.

Huge bezels aren't an "aesthetic opinion".. They are wasted space. You could have a smaller laptop with the same size screen, or a larger screen in the same footprint.

The new MacBook is quite underpowered, indeed.

Your argument is subjective. Objectively, it's dated and slipping behind in pretty much every measurable way. It's just average now... I suspect it will get a redesign sooner than later.

 

[Meister]

Huge bezels aren't an "aesthetic opinion".. They are wasted space. You could have a smaller laptop with the same size screen, or a larger screen in the same footprint.

The new MacBook is quite underpowered, indeed.

Your argument is subjective. Objectively, it's dated and slipping behind in pretty much every measurable way. It's just average now... I suspect it will get a redesign sooner than later.

That is complete bulls**t.
Please name another laptop with the same ssd performance, battery life and trackpad!
... no need looking. You won't find one!

You are left with complaining about the screen and bezel.

 

[redheeler]

Huge bezels aren't an "aesthetic opinion".. They are wasted space. You could have a smaller laptop with the same size screen, or a larger screen in the same footprint.

The new MacBook is quite underpowered, indeed.

Your argument is subjective. Objectively, it's dated and slipping behind in pretty much every measurable way. It's just average now... I suspect it will get a redesign sooner than later.

I agree the MBA design and display are quite outdated. The MacBook is intended to be the eventual replacement.

Those who need the extra power can get a rMBP. For those who do not need it, the rMB is a great option.

I do not agree that it is "slipping behind in pretty much every measurable way". Every update has brought a performance increase, and the internals are still perfectly current having been updated only last month with Broadwell CPUs and crazy fast 4-lane PCIe SSDs.

 

[MistrSynistr]

It's so odd to me that a company like Apple would sell this 1.4 5400HD grinder which is aimed specifically at people making the Window's jump only to be thrust into an OS they aren't familiar with coupled with spinning beach balls 80% of their experience, combined with slow processing.

 

[wiredup72]

I am working on eGPU solutions for Mac products like this and that requires multiple reboots, all day long. I thought I could live with the base Mini, I just wanted something to represent the product line and I wanted to walk into an Apple store with $500 and walk out with a Mini. And I did.

MacVidCards, I don't mean to promote my own posts, but your comment about the eGPU really caught my eye. I assume that such a product would be targeted at the Mac Pro. Could you ever see an eGPU option for any of the laptops, Mini or iMac?
Something comparable to Alienware?
Here is my thread that I asked about this and most people rightly ignored me, but if you feel the inclination to respond here or there, I would be very interested in your opinion. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1865377/

 

[scottsjack]

So now you are changing your opinion to fit a certain criteria....

Further how is the Macbook Air a more specialized category than the new Macbook? Seems to me super-ultra portability is an even more specialized category than the portable w/ ports category that the macbook air is....

Just can't handle others' opinions can we?

The air is for those who needs a very light weight laptop for fairly normal duty. The weight is more important than the need for connectivity and power.

The new Macbook is just stupid, Jony Ive thinness. To me it's embarrassing.

 

[ratsg]

I recently purchased a new mini, base level 2014 model.
I think performance is very poor. If you want to do one thing at a time, it is just OK, try and do more than one thing at a time, massive delays, loads of the old beach all spinning away.
I am doing nothing more than itunes, email (via the mail client) and web browsing, but even with these basic activities the machine struggles, how I wish I had not purchased the entry level unit.
A warning to all, if you buy a mini, please spend a little more and get one better specified than the entry level unit.

Frankly I am surprised Apple released it like this, and even more surprised they got away with it.
This is not what I expected from Apple.

Its a mini, and it is what it is.

FWIW, I also purchase a new Mini, what I consider to be a top of the line model. 3 Ghz i7 processor, 16 Gb Ram. The only thing I didn't get was the SSD. Stayed with the fusion drive for space.

I had pretty good luck with mini's in the past, and although there is nothing wrong with this one, this one just hasn't provided the "bang for the buck" that past models have had.

Part of that may be Yosemite. I have been pretty disappointed in that also. In hind-site, I should have purchased the Mac mini pro, AKA new mac pro or trash can mac. A lot more money than a mini, but I don't feel I would have been as disappointed.

 

[applelover4u]

Oh come on now. iMac, mini or laptop, the cheapest Mac model is now crap. Experienced buyers will stay away. Equal or slightly more money spent on an Apple refurb will get far better results.

The new cheap stuff is preying on newbies and unsophisticated buyers. It is no longer possible to buy any Apple computer and get a great machine.

There is nothing that is apple refurb that will outperfom this mac mini for the same price

This mac mini is awesome its just the slow harddrive is the problem

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I bought the mid-range Mac Mini over the weekend and it's been brilliant so far. It's designated as my central "always-on" server and for 24 hours it's been hammering through a large Handbrake queue, copying (rsync) files over the network and the messages, mail, calendar, terminal, safari, photos, iTunes (home sharing) and Clear app have been constantly open. The only slow down has been when I need to access the GUI (rather than ssh), but that's more my internet connection and Chrome Remote Desktop slowing things down. Whenever I need to get "hands on", it seems to power my 45" TV (in the living room) without any issues at all - looks superb too. Looking at iStat Menus right now, the CPU is at 100%, memory at 56% and the network's being hammered. Honestly, I'm super impressed with this thing.

This was intended as informational and to provide some context, not to help diagnose your issues I would highly recommend it. I may upgrade the SSD at some point but it seems to do the job perfectly so far.

Good review. I got similar experience. That only issue is when clicking to open or sometimes close apps it takes a while longer to open but with a SSD that will fix it

 

[Altis]

That is complete bulls**t.
Please name another laptop with the same ssd performance, battery life and trackpad!
... no need looking. You won't find one!

You are left with complaining about the screen and bezel.

First, no need to be childish about it. Second, I acknowledged that the trackpad on the Air is a thing of beauty.

Who buys their laptop based on SSD performance? SATA3 vs PCIe flash storage is imperceptible to pretty well everyone in most use cases on a laptop in this segment.

Dell XPS 13 gets 15 hr battery life with the 1080p screen (takes a hit with the 3200x1800 touch display). There's also the very interesting and well priced ASUS UX305 that comes in way cheaper than the MBA, quite a bit thinner, and with 8GB of RAM standard -- the drawback being the processor.

You act as if the screen is some obscure feature (like PCIe storage) when it's the main interface. We both know that if Apple trimmed the bezels (at least to a reasonable size) and increased pixel density, it would be a dramatic improvement. A lot of 5-10 year old laptops have thinner bezels.

 

[gixxerfool]

Actually, other than the hard drive, it's not a bad computer. But with that hard drive, even for low use - web-surfing, email, iTunes - it's pretty bad. Even non-technical users will complain.

If you want a low-risk, low-cost option to speed your computer up, buy a ~120gb SSD, get a UASP external USB 3.0 enclosure ($20), and boot from that. I see Mushkin 120gb SSD's for around $55 on Newegg.

If you're really feeling frisky and want to dive in to the terminal, fuse that external drive with the 500gb spinner and enjoy.

I did this for a friend of mine who bought the base 2014 and his computer is now a snappy little Mac where apps launch with nary a bounce.

The advantages are that there is no warranty risking surgery and the results are well worth the time. The disadvantages are that your boot drive is external and there's no TRIM support. But even so, after a while you'll forget where your boot drive is and TRIM is a subject of much debate about it's value.

If/when the after-market finally provides a reasonably priced PCIe-SSD alternative, you'll still have an SSD in an external enclosure; which are handy things to have around for alternate boots or speedy portable storage.

If I were in the market for a new computer now, I would grab a $589 refurbed 2.6mHz mid-Mini and boot from an externally fused SSD drive.

I have a question. I bought the exact setup you recommended and formatted the drive. My TM backup is on my old mini now working as server. I boot and get the restore from time machine option, but it doesn't see my server. Can I plug the new drive into my old mini and just restore from there and then finish it off on my new machine?

TIA